PSTA Unveils Winner of Bus Design Competition that Encapsulates Diversity
PSTA Unveils Winner of Bus Design Competition that Encapsulates Diversity
Winning artwork will debut on PSTA bus as part of PSTA’s Juneteenth celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19th, 2022
St. Petersburg, FL – The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is proud to unveil a new bus wrap that encapsulates diversity, which will make its debut as part of PSTA’s celebration of Juneteenth. Professional animator and illustrator Donavon Brutus won PSTA’s “Diversity Drives Us” competition, and will have his artwork wrapped around an active bus. (photos available here)
Brutus learned the fundamentals of fine art throughout high school, focusing on sculpture, abstracts, and life drawing. He got his first taste of digital art while earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Animation at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa.
“The cartoons of the 80s and 90s inspired me to start drawing at an early age,” Brutus said. “I love to simplify what I see in the human form and my experiences. Thematically, I explore mindfulness, diversity, music, Black excellence, and popular culture. I generally feel that people of color and LGBT+ communities are still significantly under-represented in our culture, and the representations are often flat. As an ally, I try to shift this. My work is a meditation of organizing shapes into something that feels aesthetic.”
The design will stretch across an enormous canvas—each side of a PSTA bus is 37 feet long and nearly 9 feet high. PSTA selected Brutus’ design because it captures PSTA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission Statement.
“We were blown away by Donavon’s design. It was everything we were looking for and more,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “His vibrant use of color showcases how we all come from different backgrounds and truly captures the melting pot that our community is. We are honored to have his artwork displayed on one of our buses.”
ABOUT PSTA: The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is the public transit provider for Pinellas County, providing more than 12.1 million rides per year. PSTA operates 40 bus and trolley routes with a fleet of 210 vehicles. More information is available at psta.net.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Stephanie Weaver
PSTA Communications & Public Relations Manager
O: (727) 540-1853 | C: (727) 249-6542
E: Sweaver@psta.net